Developer`s Visit To Sunrise Piques Officials` Interest

May 4, 1986|By Gary Enos, Staff Writer

SUNRISE — When the president of the company that owns the Sunrise Musical Theatre approaches the podium at Monday`s City Council meeting, it will be a moment council members have awaited for several months.

Council members are hoping that rumors on plans to build a convention center and sports arena near the theater will become hard facts at Monday`s 7 p.m. meeting, which Royal Corp. President Leonard Bloom is expected to attend.

It has been nearly five months since Bloom announced a proposal for a $200 million expansion of the theater site, a project that would include a 20,000- seat sports arena, a 250,000-square-foot convention center, twin-tower hotels and a shopping center.

But Monday will be the first time Bloom has addressed the council since it approved his plans in concept last December.

Last month, the council refused to act on a request to launch preliminary studies on the project until Bloom returned to the city to answer several questions.

``We didn`t want to see any more lobbyists (for Bloom),`` council member Mike Stern said on Friday. ``We want to know what kind of commitments (Bloom) is seeking from the city.``

Mayor Larry Hoffman asked council members last month to authorize $5,000 so the city and Bloom could apply for a preliminary development agreement with the state`s Department of Community Affairs.

A preliminary development agreement would classify Bloom`s project as a development of regional impact, but would allow Bloom to begin construction immediately.

Bloom`s proposed complex would be located at the southeast corner of Nob Hill Road and Commercial Boulevard.

Hoffman said on Friday that the developer would pick up the $5,000 cost for the preliminary studies, but Stern said council members had been led to believe it was the city`s expense.

Stern added that he has some reservations about Bloom`s attempt to have the city condemn about 200 acres of privately owned land near the theater for use as a parking area for the complex.

``A lot of questions need to be answered,`` Stern said.

The city sold the theater in 1984 to the firm that managed the facility at the time. The firm, Marquee Enterprises, agreed to assume responsibility for the bonds the city sold to build the theater in 1975.

The city also received $1 million in the deal.

Council member Bernie Weiselberg said that despite the unanswered questions, the city should do what it can to make Bloom`s proposal a reality.